11/09/2021
Thing we now practice (part V):
We create a culture of celebration in our home. We believe in the value of honoring even the smallest victories.
During the "date nights" that we have each week, we celebrate our little accomplishments and honor each other for hard work, even if the results are not manifested yet. We prioritize celebrating one another, even when one of us may not be thriving. There have been moments where Ale has celebrated my ( ) work victories amidst the reality that her job was emotionally toxic. We have found that when people compete and compare with one another, it causes distress in their relationships. The act of celebrating and honoring the other person will almost always disempower jealousy and comparison.
We also intentionally celebrate birthdays to the max. I () struggled for many years with the concept of being alive, so investing in my birthday is a way that I commemorate that I am alive. We also help the people in our community to celebrate important occasions in their lives such as engagements, birthdays, promotions, or even just a visit from out of town. Through celebration, we are able to practically choose joy. Even in the moments when celebration has cost us financially or emotionally, we still celebrate in spite of lack or circumstantial uncertainty.
This core value also helps us to connect with the reality of God being on our side. When things get really hard for us, we have a "feast before our enemies." This is where we cook up a storm, light the candles, and celebrate in the face of a major unresolved challenge. Our inspiration for this comes from Psalm 23:
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
We encourage you to have a feast! Whether that is going to get your favorite coffee an hour before work, or having a special meal, set time aside to intentionally position your heart above the despair, remember that God is with you, and take on a posture of expectation of good things to come.